One thing that made the fairs fairs, rather than festivals, was the dominance of theatre and Incubus were the first among many fine troupes who brought street theatre to the fields of East Anglia. And Paddy was the constant, the writer and the director and the finest and funniest foul mouthed beggar, goblin and alien punk to be found in those fair fields.

Bruce and Jill first came to the fairs for the Last Barsham in 1976, and they became a regular fixture from then on, moving to Wymondham two or three years later. In 1981 and 1982, they organised the fair at Lyng, under the name the Faerie Faire.

As many of you will know, Old Hall in East Bergholt has been a community since 1974 and hosted 4 fairs: Fire (1979), Moon (1980), Rainbow (1981) and Earth (1982). We were invited to take the exhibition there as part of a Ceilidh organised by resident Dan Wheals, yet again it was like going home for the Archive!

The Fairs Archive’s yurt was set up in the chapel, (now deconsecrated) and fitted perfectly in the area that once contained the altar below an ancient wall painting still resplendent with gold foil. We all jigged the night away to the SOAS Ceilidh band “fiddling in support of refugees”. Everyone had a wonderful time and Old Hall proved to be welcoming and generous hosts.